A Sydney woman is taking legal action against a local hospital after a pair of surgical scissors were left in her abdomen for 18 months following an operation.
Pat Skinner (69) told national radio that doctors had given her a clean bill of health after part of her colon was removed at Sydney’s St George Hospital three years ago.
But for 18 months after the operation Skinner said she experienced worsening abdominal and back pain that doctors told her was a normal result of her surgery.
When the pain became excruciating, doctors ordered an X-ray which showed a 17cm pair of surgical scissors in her abdomen.
”I was just devastated. I could not believe what I was seeing, it was like a nightmare seeing those scissors up on the screen,” she said.
St George Hospital apologised for the incident but national broadcaster ABC said Skinner still planned to sue the facility for damages.
St George’s chief executive David Pearce said surgery guidelines at the hospital had since been modified, requiring staff to complete a full inventory of all items in the theatre.
Skinner’s husband Don is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at the same hospital. – Sapa-AFP